ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

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• Temp-controlled 'nanopores' may allow detailed blood analysis
• New player in electron field emitter technology makes for better imaging and communications
• Carbon footprint of grid-scale battery technologies calculated
• Comet PANSTARRS rises to the occasion mid-March
• Engineers develop techniques to boost efficiency of cloud computing infrastructure
• Heating with powder and plastic wastes
• Duckweed as a cost-competitive raw material for biofuel production
• First discovery of a natural topological insulator
• Advance in re-engineering photosynthesis to make drugs, compounds or ingredients
• New flex-grid system prevents optical network 'traffic jams'
• Mind-controlled exoskeleton to help disabled people walk again

Temp-controlled 'nanopores' may allow detailed blood analysis Posted: 08 Mar 2013 03:38 PM PST Tiny biomolecular chambers called nanopores that can be selectively heated may help doctors diagnose disease more effectively, according to a new research.

New player in electron field emitter technology makes for better imaging and communications Posted: 08 Mar 2013 11:38 AM PST Scientists have built a practical, high-efficiency nanostructured electron source. This new, patent-pending technology could lead to improved microwave communications and radar, and more notably to new and improved X-ray imaging systems for security and healthcare applications.

Carbon footprint of grid-scale battery technologies calculated Posted: 08 Mar 2013 08:13 AM PST Solar and wind power pose a challenge for the U.S. electrical grid, which lacks the capacity to store surplus clean electricity and deliver it on demand. Researchers are developing grid-scale storage batteries, but the fossil fuel required to build these technologies could negate some of the environmental benefits of new solar and wind farms, say scientists.

Comet PANSTARRS rises to the occasion mid-March Posted: 08 Mar 2013 05:21 AM PST Comets visible to the naked eye are a rare delicacy in the celestial smorgasbord of objects in the nighttime sky. Scientists estimate that the opportunity to see one of these icy dirtballs advertising their cosmic presence so brilliantly they can be seen without the aid of a telescope or binoculars happens only once every five to 10 years. That said, there may be two naked-eye comets available for your viewing pleasure this year.

Engineers develop techniques to boost efficiency of cloud computing infrastructure Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:57 AM PST Computer scientists have developed a novel approach that allows the massive infrastructure powering cloud computing to run as much as 15 to 20 percent more efficiently. This novel model has already been applied at Google.

Heating with powder and plastic wastes Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST Disposing of waste – whether it is coating powder or swarf – is expensive. In the future, a combustor for powdery residues will enable companies to cut disposal costs and heating costs at the same time.

Duckweed as a cost-competitive raw material for biofuel production Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:05 AM PST The search for a less-expensive, sustainable source of biomass, or plant material, for producing gasoline, diesel and jet fuel has led scientists to duckweed, that fast-growing floating plant that turns ponds and lakes green.

First discovery of a natural topological insulator Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:05 AM PST In a step toward understanding and exploiting an exotic form of matter that has been sparking excitement for potential applications in a new genre of supercomputers, scientists are reporting the first identification of a naturally occurring "topological insulator."

Advance in re-engineering photosynthesis to make drugs, compounds or ingredients Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:05 AM PST Scientists are reporting an advance in re-engineering photosynthesis to transform plants into bio-factories that manufacture high-value ingredients for medicines, fabrics, fuels and other products.

New flex-grid system prevents optical network 'traffic jams' Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:05 AM PST Services like Google Maps use algorithms to determine the fastest route from point A to point B -- even factoring in real-time traffic information as you travel to redirect you if, for example, a parade is blocking part of your route. Now, a team of researchers from have achieved this kind of traffic control for the connections in optical networks by using a new dynamic network management system -- and it does Google Maps one better.

Mind-controlled exoskeleton to help disabled people walk again Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:03 AM PST Every year thousands of people are paralyzed by a spinal cord injury. Many are young adults, facing the rest of their lives confined to a wheelchair. Although no medical cure currently exists, in the future they could be able to walk again thanks to a mind-controlled robotic exoskeleton being developed by EU-funded researchers.

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